Million Dollar Mermaid

1952 "Inspired by the true story of bathing beauties!"
6.5| 1h55m| en| More Info
Released: 04 December 1952 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

After overcoming polio, Annette Kellerman achieves fame and creates a scandal when her one-piece bathing suit is considered indecent.

... View More
Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Director

Producted By

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever
InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.
Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
TheLittleSongbird Esther Williams and that the water ballet sequences were choreographed by Busby Berkeley were my two main reasons for seeing 'Million Dollar Mermaid'. As well as that Annette Kellerman's story is an interesting one.While highly fictionalised as a real-life biography (not unexpected, this was true of a lot of film biopics made then and it's a trend that still hasn't gone away with a few exceptions), 'Million Dollar Mermaid' (aka 'The One Piece Bathing Suit') as a piece of entertainment or a film in its own right is a good film and one of Williams' better films by quite some distance.As for Williams herself, she is captivating and really does radiate a million dollars. Not just in the water, where her aquatic skills are second to none, but she gives a heartfelt and committed out of the water too. She is well supported by handsome Victor Mature (who really does try to inject charm and energy into a character written in a way not worthy of those attributes), very amusing and sympathetic Jesse White and endearing Walter Pidgeon.Berkeley is another star here, the aquatic sequences are wonderfully ornate, exquisitely shot and simply jaw dropping to watch, actually being better than the term "aqua spectacular". Anybody looking for a contender for the best aquatic sequences in an Esther Williams film, or even on film full-stop, 'Million Dollar Mermaid' is a definite contender.'Million Dollar Mermaid' looks beautiful, with lavish cinematography (especially in the aquatic sequences), big, bold, rich colours and opulent costumes and sets, even if the studio's version of England has to be seen to be believed. The music is always pleasant to listen to, while the script avoids being too frothy, sentimental or cheesy and is actually tight, sometimes amusing and sometimes heartfelt. Even though fictionalised (with some glaring inaccuracies and omissions that one wishes were in the film), the story still has a high nostalgic value and emotional impact and is much more eventful and sincere than most of the usual stories in Esther Williams' films.Not without faults. 'Million Dollar Mermaid' does go on slightly longer than necessary and drags ever so slightly in places where the drama sags a little. More of a problem was that the chemistry between Williams and Mature could have been more believable and not as ill at ease, not Williams' fault nor Mature's but more to do with the very unsympathetic and caddish way that the latter's character is written in.Overall, a good film with Williams radiating a million dollars. 8/10 Bethany Cox
moonspinner55 The idea of putting swimming star Esther Williams in a biography of champion Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman must have seemed like a can't-miss concept for a splashy matinée item which would pay-off no matter what the outcome. Unfortunately, the concept itself is underused, as Williams performs in a handful of extravagant water routines but does very little dramatic acting. Producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. and the requisite MGM brass do not appear to have any inspiration that goes beyond the standard glitz and glamour (the script being somewhat expendable). That's too bad, for Kellerman's life story had aspects of both high drama and nostalgic value (being the first woman to wear a one-piece swimsuit on America's shores!). Mervyn LeRoy's direction is quite capable, and Williams is amiable, however Busby Berkeley's lavish, gaudy production numbers are what most people end up remembering. **1/2 from ****
cbsurvey In addition to the fictionalization of the previous commenter, it is also interesting that Annette's mother did not die when she was as young as the movie depicts. In fact, it was her mother who put her into swimming lessons to strengthen her legs. And it was her father who started her in her professional career, including the swim up the Thames river. She did marry her manager, James Sullivan, though.Of course, the romance plays much better on film as depicted here. Despite the Hollywood-izing of her life, this is still an enjoyable film and a great showcase for the talented Esther Williams. Nice, light entertainment.
DeborahPainter855 This film is very interesting and expensively mounted. I recommend it with a few caveats. For instance, the water ballets could not have looked the way they looked in the film because they simply did not have the electrical devices necessary in the 1910s and 1920s to create these effects. They did in the 1950s, of course.Secondly, Annette's former flame, Mr. Sullivan, was not the guy who raised and trained Rin-Tin-Tin and got him started in Hollywood. For the life of me, I cannot understand why this was in the film. Lee Duncan, a former Army airman, was Rinty's owner and trainer, and as far as I know he had no connection to Annette. I don't know why 1950s biographical film had the tendency to do this sort of thing, but it is very common.